AS the Guyana Jaguars went down 82-67 against Jamaica in the final of the JamRockerz Classic basketball last Saturday in Jamaica, there were some Guyanese players who stood out. Topping the list of those standouts was Bounty Colts forward Stanton Rose.
Rose has been outstanding for quite some time now, on a steady climb of progress ever since he first started out in the sport back in 2010, and this week we celebrate him as Noble House Seafoods Ltd ‘Sports Personality-of-the-Week.

To date he has won four Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, four ‘Most Assist’ awards, and one ‘Best Defence Player’ award at the national level – more than meriting his selection by the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) for the national team, the Guyana Jaguars, and representing Guyana in Jamaica.
Earlier this year he was selected to be a part of the Guyana team who represented at the regional Inter-Guiana Games, while last year his performance stood out so much that he was recruited by the Colts. He played a crucial role in the team’s lead-up to the defence of the Road to Mecca III National Club Basketball Championship tournament – the team’s third straight victory.

For his part Rose ended as the MVP, what he describes as one of the crowning moment of his thus-far career as a player. Stanton has taken away a lot from being in the sport.
Stanton speaks of how much the sport has helped him to connect with friends and many interesting persons, and even jokes about how being in the sport made him popular with the ladies.
What impresses many over the years is just how skilful Rose is at such a young age, an indication of what he would be capable of in time to come.

“I think the best part of his game is his decision-making. He knows when to attack and when to pass. He is also good at setting up the offence and can operate out of any set whether it’s pick and roll, one-on-one situations or whatever system the team is running.
In addition he is a hustle type of player and that’s what you always want,” said ardent basketball fan, and sports reporter, Treiston Joseph.
It all started for the 5” 11’ versatile player in the basketball-loving community of Kwakwani, under the tutelage of his dad.

“Basketball is the number one sport in the community that I’m from and really brings the people together in my community. I started going out with my father and he taught me a few things,” Stanton explained.
Later when he started out at the Kwakwani Secondary School he became a part of the school’s basketball team and coaches Ann Gordon and Dave Causeway took over the training reins.
Like many players, Rose is dreaming big of perhaps one day making it as an accomplished National Basketball Association (NBA) player.